Hickey named Big Ten Defensive Player of the WeekJunior earns first Big Ten weekly honor

Annemarie Hickey earns her first Big Ten weekly honor.

Oct. 29, 2012

MADISON, Wis. - Annemarie Hickey, a junior on the Wisconsin volleyball team, has been named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. The 5-8 libero picks up the first weekly conference honor of her career.

Hickey put together back-to-back 20-plus digs matches last weekend, including a season-high 30 digs in a four-set win over Illinois on Friday. She also added 24 digs vs. Northwestern on Sunday to average 6.0 digs per set on the weekend.

Hickey served three aces against the Wildcats, to average 0.33 per set on the weekend, added 0.67 assists per set and had a serve receive percentage of .952.

On the season, Hickey is the best back-row defender in the Big Ten, leading the league overall and in conference matches in digs per set. She averages a league-best 4.86 digs per set in all matches and 4.85 digs per set in Big Ten matches.

Hickey has double-figure digs in 23-of-25 matches this season, including eight matches with 20-or-more digs. She became just the 12th UW player to record 1,000 digs in a career when she went over the grand mark vs. South Alabama on Sept. 15. Hickey is currently tied for third on the Wisconsin career record list with 3.90 digs per set and ranks seventh with 1,232 digs.

Hickey joins teammate Mary Ording, who was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 10, as the only Badgers to be honored this season.